Surgical appliance



Dec. 31, 1929. GLASS 1,741,457

SURGICAL APPLIANCE OrigiqaLFiled Feb. 4, 1925 INVEINTOR J4 0B 62/;55.

A ORNEY Patented Dec. 31, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFEE.

SURGICAL APPLIANCE Application filed February 4, 1925, Serial No. 6,708. Renewed May 2, 1929.

This invention relates to a new and improved surgical appliance and the prime object thereof is to provide a device particularly adapted to minimize or arrest the flow of blood in the throat subsequent to the operation of removing the tonsils. Said invention contemplates certain improvements over those in my pending application Serial No.

774,589. A further object of the invention is to provide an appliance of the above character of such construction that it can be operated to arrest the flow of blood in one side of the throat after a tonsil removing operation, without interfering with the freedom of the surgeon operating upon the opposite side of the throat to remove the other tonsil.

Other objects and aims of the invention more or less specific than those referred to above, will be in part obvious and in part pointed out in the course of the following description of the elements, combinations, arrangement of parts and application of principles, constituting the invention; and the scope of protection contemplated will be indicated in the appended claim.

In the accompanying drawings wherein I have illustrated a preferred form of embodiment of my invention:

Figure 1 is an elevational view in full and dotted lines showing my improved appliance,

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view,

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now to the drawings it may be noted that while the device which forms the subject matter of my former application is well adapted to attain the objects set forth in the specification thereof describing said invention, in my former device no means was provided for preventing a relative lateral distortion of the legs of the device or for guiding said legs in their relative movement toward and from each other. In my present invention, however, I have cured the above mentioned objection and have provided a device wherein the foregoing objects among others, are attained in a very simple manner.

Proceeding now specifically to describe my improved device with reference to the embodiment shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the same comprises a length of spring wire bent upon itself in a substantially U-shape forming the presser legs 1 and 2 which are urged toward each other by the inherent spring tendency of the metal of which the device is composed. One or more additional twists or turns is given to the wire forming the device at its rear portion, whereby there is provided a coil spring 3 at this point. The legs cross each other at the point 4 and between this point and the coil spring 3 said legs are provided with the finger grips 5 and 6. These finger grips are formed by strips of flat metal positioned about the said legs as indicated in Fig. 3, the wire extending through overlying parts of said strips of metal. These finger grips are slightly dished or curved, whereby there is no likelihood of the finger grips twisting upon the legs and this construction also facilitates the handling of the device.

Reference numeral 7 denotes a length of wire which is passed outwardly of the leg 2 at the point 4 where the legs cross each other, said length being bent laterally and having its ends wrapped loosely about the leg 2, as indicated at 8 and 9. This length of wire forms a guide and inasmuch as it loosely embraces both of the legs it will be seen that when the legs are moved inwardly or outwardly toward each other said guide will slide along said legs while performing its guiding function, and it at all times prevents an undesirable relative side or lateral movement between the legs. The leg 1 of the device at its outer end is provided with a presser foot 10 formed by bending said wire into a circular form and the leg 2 at its outer end is provided with a spirally constructed spiked portion 11 upon which a wad of absorbent cotton may be empaled. Inasmuch as this wad of cotton may be screwed upon the spirally disposed end of the leg 2 there is no liability of its being accidentally dislodged, during the operation of the device. In the use of this device, the legs are spread by pressing upon the finger grips 5 and 6 whereupon the leg 2 containing a wad of cotton will be inserted in the throat of the patient, the presser foot 10 resting upon the neck of the patient. The end of the leg 2 containing the Wad of cotton will of course be so positioned as to press against the blood vessels from which it is desired to arrest the flow subsequent to the operation; the inherent spring tendence of the device causing said wad of cotton to be pressed against the bleeding part.

The wad of cotton indicated in dotted lines at 13 may, if desired be impregnated with a medicament useful in arresting the flow of blood and the cotton, of course, acts as an absorbent medium to take up blood which would ordinarily be discharged into the mouth or throat of the patient.

It will be obvious, of course, that two of these devices will be employed, one at either side of the throat subsequent to the operation until the flow of blood has been sufficiently arrested to permit their removal. They are so positioned in the throat as to not obstruct or interfere with. the breathing of the patient.

As many changes could be made in this construction without departing from the scope of the following claim, it is intended that all matter contained in the above de scription or shown in the accompanying drawings, shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

A device of the class described comprising a length of spring Wire bent upon itself to form oppositely disposed legs, each of which is provided at its outer end w1th a presser foot, said legs crossing each other and a freely slidably mounted guide member engaging said legs at their point of crossing preventing relative lateral distortion, and each of said legs intermediate its ends being provided with a finger grip.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature.

JACOB GLASS. 

